Wednesday, August 31, 2016

The India Post Payments Bank Limited has received the Certificate of Incorporation from the Registrar of Companies, Ministry of Corporate Affairs yesterday under the Companies Act 2013. This would be the first PSU under the Department of Posts. This has happened in the wake of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi’s Independence Day address, raising the expectations of the people from the soon to be set up India Post Payments Bank. With this move the Department of Posts has cleared an important milestone on this journey.

With the incorporation, the Board of the India Post Payments Bank Limited is likely to be constituted soon. The incorporation of the IPPB Ltd is a significant step forward as this also paves the way for the bank to begin hiring of banking professionals to set up the bank and begin its operations in 2017. The Department of Posts is expected to complete the roll out of its branches all over the country by September 2017. This could be the fastest roll out for a bank anywhere in the world.

The aspiration for the India Post Payments Bank is to become the most accessible bank in the world riding on state of the art banking and payments technology. Coupled with the physical presence across 1.55 lakh post offices and the reach of “The Dakiya”, the India Post Payments Bank aims to become a powerful and effective vehicle of real financial inclusion in the country. It is poised to create a national payments architecture riding on a modern payments platform and ubiquitous information and communication technologies that can be accessed by all users and service providers like never before. The stakeholders of the India Post Payments Bank within the Government and outside are looking at this new entity as a catalyst to social and financial inclusion.

Additional tax benefit of Rs.5000/- under Section 87A, if Income is upto Rs.5,00,000/-.

3% Extra Surcharge on total Tax.

Section 80GG: Deduction amount under 80GG increased from Rs 24,000 per annum to Rs 60,000 per annum. Section 80GG is applicable for all the individuals who do not own a residential house & do not get HRA (House Rent Allowance).

Section 87A Rebate : Benefit of Rs 5,000 upto the income of Rs 5,00,000. If you are earning below Rs 5 lakh, you can save an additional Rs 3,000 in taxes. Tax rebate under Section 87A has been raised from Rs 2,000 to Rs 5,000. Effectively, this means now the basic exemption is of Rs 3 lakh.

Surcharge : 15 % Surcharge on income of more than 1 crore rupees yearly has been proposed, earlier it was 10 %.

National Pension System : 40% of corpus withdrawal at the time of retirement will be tax exempted.

Section 80EE – First time Home Buyers can claim an additional Tax deduction of up to Rs 50,000 on home loan interest payments u/s 80EE.

IP/ASP Association intended to bring to your kind notice that Directorate vide memo No. 9-02/2015-SPG dated 10.11.2015 has appointed 122 Inspector Line Officers on regular basis in PS Gr. B cadre in the vacancies of 2015-16 and vide memo No. 9-02/2015(I)-SPG dated 09-06-2016 result of supplementary DPC by promoting 29 officers against the vacancies of 2015-16 released, but following are the few examples in which circles have not implemented orders despite having clear orders to relive the promoted officers to their new assignments within 15 days from the date of issue of orders and also not reported the date of joining by the officer in PS Gr. B cadre.

Directorate Memo No.

Name of Circle

Name of Officer

New Circle on promotion

9-02/2015-SPG dated 10.11.2015

Bihar

Shaikh Kalam

Bihar

Karnataka

C. R. Nagaraj Rao

Maharashtra

Karnataka

S. Linga Setty

Karnataka

Madhya Pradesh

M. M. Mahashwari

Uttar Pradesh

West Bengal

Madhab Mukherjee

West Bengal

9-02/2015(I)-SPG dated 09-06-2016

Haryana

Kuldeep Singh

Haryana

Andhra Pradesh

S. Murali Krishana

Tamil Nadu

Bihar

Ram Nath Sharma

Bihar

Gujarat

Y. V. Patel

Gujarat

Andhara Pradesh

M. Audinarayana

Tamil Nadu

Uttar Pradesh

Meena J. R.

Uttar Pradesh

It is to further bring to your kind notice that as per above orders all the officers promoted to PS Gr. B cadre had to be relieved from their former assignments within 15 days from the date of issue of order by Directorate. It has also stated in Directorate’s above captioned letter that, in case, posting order from the allotted circles are not received, the circle where they are stationed now can relive the promoted officer and asked to report to the allotted Circle Headquarter. Requisite period in both the orders have already been elapsed to join the new assignment on promotion. If the officers are still not joined then their promotion order may be treated as cancelled and vacancies arise owing to deemed refusal and filled these in ensuing DPC for the year 2016-17.

In this regard, a kind reference is invited to para-3 of the Department of Posts (Personnel Division) letter No.25-10/2014-SPG dated 09/07/2014 coupled with para-7 of DOP & T OM No.22011/9/98-Estt (D) dated 08-09-1998 wherein it is provided that a DPC may take into account all clear expected vacancies by retirement in the concerned grade as well as chain vacancies on account of retirement etc. in the higher grades which can be clearly anticipated in the same vacancy year.

Department of Posts vide Personnel Division letter dated 09/07/2014 has also issued instructions to percolate the seniority quota vacancies arising in higher grades in a vacancy year down to lower cadres/grades and to take into account along with the clear vacancies arising in a particular grade. Further, as clarified vide Para.4.(II) of the said letter a Circle will take into account the vacancies arising from HAG to PS Group-B Cadre in that Circle in a vacancy year as chain vacancies for lower cadres in addition to existing and anticipated vacancies in the said lower cadre arising in that vacancy year.

Furthermore it is bring to your kind notice that last year DPC process was stated by Directorate vide memo no. 9-02/2015-SPG dated 26/3/2016 and finished on 10-11-2015, it means more than 7 months period took to promote only 122 officers to PS Gr. B cadre. Whereas this year, the process was started late i.e. in the month of July 2016 vide memo No. 9-14/2016-SPG dated 05-07-2016.

It is therefore fervently requested to your kind honour to look into the matter personally and cause to issue necessary instructions to concerned circle / division in the Directorate to;

1.issue declination of promotion memo of the officers who did not join to new assignment till this date.

2.issue the list officers in the zone of consideration for DPC for promotion to the cadre of PS Gr. B cadre for the year 2016-17.

3.issue strict instructions to all circles to provide correct, requisite and accurate information to Directorate on the allotted date for furnishing information on DPC.

4.issue time bound slot to all circles to handover the APARs and other requisite information to Directorate for convening of DPC for promotion to the cadre of PS Gr. B cadre for the year 2016-17.

5.call for vacancies from all circles for the PS Gr. B DPC (2016-17) well in advance.

6.call for the names of the officers from all circles for repatriation to their home circle.

7.complete all the procedures in this issue by the end of September 2016.

A positive action will be highly appreciated and line in reply is requested.

Saturday, August 27, 2016

You are aware that our cadre fight for upgradation of the pay is finally got justice. The GP of IP, ASP and PS. Gr "B" cadre will be upgraded in the current month’s pay. In this regard our respected GS already requested to give their voluntary contribution to CHQ account.

You all know that the battle initially started from Karnataka Circle in the year 2005 by Sri Jayanth Kumar and others. The circle association also gave the contribution to CHQ to meet the legal expenses. You are all agree with me that a legal fund initiated by our Circle is required to be revived to meet some unforeseen situation facing in the cadre.

As such, I appeal all members to be generous and give their voluntary contribution to the tune of Rs 2000/- and above to our Circle Legal Fund.

The details of the circle association SB account is as under.

Account No

SOL ID

PO Name

1988760153

57500202

Balmatta Post Office

The same (copy of counterfoil) may please be informed to CS/President/Treasurer through IPASPKarnataka Whatsapp group or email to ipaspkarnataka@gmail.com to publish in the blog.

To mark Mother Teresa's sainthood ceremony in Vatican on September 4, a postal cover, coin and statue will be dedicated to the late Roman Catholic nun.

Made of pure silk, India Post will release a special postal and numismatic cover of Mother Teresa, the first of its kind, on September 2.

"A five-rupee commemorative coin issued by the Indian government in 2010 to mark the centenary birth celebrations of the legend will be engraved on the cover. This is a special feature as it combines the two collectible items of coins and stamps," eminent philatelist Alok K Goyal, who designed the stamps, said.

The collectors' item will be released in a limited edition of 1,000 pieces.

Besides this, the Republic of Macedonia, where Teresa was born in 1910, has also announced to release a special gold-plated silver coin on the Nobel laureate.

The coin will have a face value of 100 Macedonian Denars and will be released next month.

Up to 5,000 pieces of the coin will be minted for the global market out of which 50 will be made available for the Indian market, said Goyal, an international dealer in unusual stamps and coins.

At the centre of the coin is a statue of Mother Teresa dressed in her trademark plain white sari with three blue stripes along its border.

The coin also has the image of a clematis flower known as "Matka Teresa" (Mother Teresa) bred by Stefan Franczak, Polish Jesuit monk.

It also carries the Latin inscription "Sancta Teresia de Calcutta" (Saint Teresa of Calcutta).

"We are hoping that this coin will be a hit not only

in the Indian market but all over the world as she has her fans in every corner," Goyal, who represents the International Coin House in India, said.

In Kolkata, where Mother Teresa had worked all her life and established the Missionaries of Charity, a life-size bronze statue of her will be installed at the Bishop House next to the statue of Pope John Paul II this Thursday, on the eve of her birth anniversary.

Built by Church Art, a Kolkata-based firm engaged in making various works of art, the 5.5 feet long statue is made of bronze imported from Italy.

The statue has been donated by Namit Bajoria, Designate Honorary Consul of the Republic of Macedonia in Kolkata.

Teresa was born in Skopje, the capital city of Republic of Macedonia, before she left her parental home as an 18-year-old to join the Sisters of Loreto, an Irish Community of nuns with missions in India.

For over 40 years, she served the poorest of the poor and disabled on the streets of Kolkata. For her services, she received 124 awards and distinctions, including the Nobel Peace Prize and the Bharat Ratna.

At a gala ceremony on September 4, she will be declared a saint by the Church which has recognised two miracles she was said to have carried out after her death in 1997.

The government of Macedonia has also announced that they will mark the declaration of Mother Teresa as a saint with several events.

Vilas Ingale, General Secretary visited Postal Directorate on 22/8/2016. He was accompanied by Shri Yadagiri G. Nyalapelli CHQ Treasurer, Shri Roop Chand President Delhi Circle Branch, Shri P. Ajit Kumar AGS-I and Shri Permanand ASP (PG) Postal Directorate. Team met with Director General, Member (P) and other senior officers in the Postal Directorate and discussed the following issues. It was assured and told by all officers that Directorate is looking into these issues and few of them are at final stage of settlement. Letters on pending issues handed over personally to DG and Member (P).

Vigilance enquiry in the death case of Ms Mohini Gupta Ex-ASP Ajmer (Rajasthan).

BRIEF ON IMPORTANT ISSUES :

A)PS Gr. B examination will be held before 31st December 2016. Directorate is yet not finalised vendor to conduct examination ‘ON LINE’. So examination is expected like previous one only and our circle / regional departmental officers will conduct. There will be (expected) only one examination for the entire vacancies of 2013 to 2016. Eligibility criteria for appearing in each year’s examination will be different and result will be declared year wise vacancies. Inspector Post Examination will there and that will be before PS Gr. B examination. Notification is expected soon.

B)Revised recruitment rules of Assistant Manager MMS is said to be sent to Nodal Ministry for approval.

C)For holding of DPC for promotion to the cadre of PS Gr. B for the year 2016-17, Directorate has already directed all Circles to keep the information ready. Only Tamil Nadu and Chhattisgarh circle has reported that their information is ready and waiting for the allotment of slot for submission of information by hand.As there was no response from remaining circles to Directorates letter dated 5/7/2016,reminder was issued on 22/8/2016 with a request to send required information by return of email. The information of 5 officers (who selected in regular DPC for the year 2015-16 vide memo No. 9-02/2015-SPG dated 10/11/2015) about their date of joining B cadre is not reported by concerned circle to Postal Directorate despite series of reminders through email. Similarly, date of joining of 4 officers selected in supplementary DPC under Memo No. 9-02/2015(I)-SPG dated 9-6-2016 is also required at Directorate for updation of record and calculation of vacancies for ensuring DPC. GS has posted the details of these officers posted on this blog on 23/8/2016 with a request to ensure submission of information at once.

D)Cadre restructuring issue also discussed and some inputs gathered which will help the Association at the time of finalisation of proposal at ensuing CWC.

E)Directorate is working on representations received from IPs in connection with objection on gradation list of Inspector Posts 2001 and 2002. After finalization of these two years gradation list, remaining years gradation lists will be circulated.

F)JTS DPC file for the year 2016-17 is still at Directorate. After implementation of revised RRs of IPoS Gr.A cadre (which was circulated under memo No.4-10/2013-SPG dated 11th December 2014), some technical problems arised in calculation of correct vacancies. As on date 156 JTS Gr. A offices are available (working) against the sanction strength 151. To resolve this issue, the result of DPC of STS Gr. A cadre is expected by the end of this week. Nearly 20 to 22 officers are likely to be promoted to STS and technical resignation of 3 STS Officers is under process of acceptance and thereafter JTS DPC file with correct vacancy position is said to be submitted to UPSC.

Full support and co-operation was found extended by the officers of Directorate to CHQ team. CHQ thanks to all.

39th Biennial Circle Conference of All India Association of Inspectors and Assistant Superintendents Posts, Bihar Circle Branch and 23rd Biennial Circle Conference of Postal Officers' Association (India) Bihar Circle Branch were held on 21/8/2016 at Patna. Combined 'Open Session' of both Associations held under one roof. Shri Rajiv Kumar made hat-trick for the post of Circle Secretary. GS and CHQ Treasurer attend the conference.

39th Biennial Circle Conference of All India Association of Inspectors and Assistant Superintendent Posts, Punjab Circle was held on 24.07.2016 at Chandigarh GPO Building and following office bearers of the association were elected:

If a bribe-giver informs the police or a law enforcement agency within seven days of his action, he may receive immunity from criminal prosecution.

A proposed bill before Parliament, that seeks to amend the 1988 Prevention of Corruption Act, states only those who inform an agency before paying bribe and help catch the bribe-receiver redhanded should be spared. But a select committee of Parliament, which has studied the bill, in its report said there was no protection to the "coercive bribe-giver" who may have been "compelled" to do so.

"The committee recommends that if the bribe-giver within seven days of giving or paying bribe to a public servant reports the matter to police or law enforcing agency, he may be given immunity from criminal prosecution," the committee said. It has suggested the bill be modified to say the provisions of the same would not apply where a person is compelled to give an undue advantage to an official and the person so compelled reports the matter to police within seven days of giving the said bribe.

In its presentation before the committee, the government said only judiciary can analyse evidence and define parameters to ascertain if the bribe-giver was a willing partner or was forced to commit such crime involuntarily.

"There is every likelihood that most of the bribegivers, though acting in collusion, may claim that bribe was paid under compulsion to evade and escape punishment. In view of the government's policy of zero tolerance to corruption, no distinction in bribegiving, except giving protection to bribe-giver who informs police/probe agencies prior to payment of bribe to public servant, is justified," the DoPT told the select committee.

However, civil society members told the panel that coercive bribegivers are "the victim of the crime of bribery" and should not be treated on a par with collusive bribe-givers. The panel tended to agree with the civil society more than the government.

The Committee of Secretaries headed by Finance Secretary reviewing the recommendations of the 7th Pay Commission, is going to have the second meeting on 1st September 2016.

In order to get a first-hand view on the demand of the Central Government Employees, the Committee of Secretaries has invited the representatives of National Joint Council of Action for talks. "the Committee on Allowances has desired to meet the representatives of National Joint Council of Action in the aforesaid meeting to obtain their views on the recommendations of 7th Central Pay Commission relating to allowances", said the letter from Finance Ministry addressed to Shiv Gopal Mishra, Secretary, NJCA.